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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. H. WILLIAMS. APPARATUS FOR SUBDIVIDING MATERIAL IN GOMMI-NUTED FORM.

Patented Nov. 10, 1885.-

WITNESSES I W a is lprvglgtroa fl w/ N. PETERS Phcto-L thcgmphar. Washington, D. C.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. R. WILLIAMS. APPARATUS FOR SUBDIVIIDING MATERIAL IN GOMMINUTED ,FORM.

No. 330,076. v Patented Nov. 10, 1885.

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JOHN R. WILLIAMS, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

APPARATUS FOR SUBDIVIDING MATERIAL lN COMMINUTED FORM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 330,076, dated November 10, 1885.

Application filed July 31, 1885. Serial No. 113,131. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN R. WILLIAMS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in'Apparatus for Subdividing Material in Oomminuted Form, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to an improved apparatus for subdividing masses of comminuted or granular material into parts of given and uniform weight and quantity.

, tity of tobacco and be of uniform size, weight,

and appearance. The usual method heretofore practiced has been to take up into the hand and judge by feeling the proper weight or quantity for the filler of each cigar; but this is uncertain, unsatisfactory, and obviously objectionable.

My improved apparatus sought to be protected hereby obviates these objections and renders the apportioning of the tobacco for the filler rapid and certain;

In the accompanying drawings I have shown an apparatus embodying the invention as adapted to the manufacture of cigars.

Figure l is a side elevation of same, partly in section. Fig. 2 is a top view of same, partly in section, on the dotted lines y y of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged central vertical longitudinal section of the nozzle,hereinafter described. Fig. 4 is a section of same on the line so a; of Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is a view of a modified form of the invention.

- Referring to the drawings, A designates a frame or table of any usual construction; B,

a main air-pipe arranged in suitable relation thereto and leading to an exhaust, C, and D a flexible hand tube or pipe connected at one end with the pipe B, its other end carrying a nozzle, E, which serves as a handle-for the use of the operator, and has its outer end perforated, as shown at F. Upon the nozzle E is arranged a sleeve or collar, G, which is held in place by a set-screw or by friction, and may be moved over or away from a portion of the apertures F, the purpose being to permit a definite length of the perforated end of the nozzle to be exposed, according to the circumstances attending its use, as hereinafter explained. In the nozzle E, adjacent to its inner end, is provided a valve, H, by means of which the passage of air through the tube D may be permitted or prevented at will. The valve H will preferably be the Well-known 1ever-valve, normally closed bya spring, and capable of being opened by the pressure of the thumb on its lever; but its construction is a matter which may be regulated at the will of the manufacturer. At one corner of the table A is a receptacle, lettered I, for containing the tobacco in quantity, and adjacent to this and nearer the center of the table is a hopper or funnel, J, superposed above a removable box, K, having a hinged lid or cover, which may be opened or closed at will.

The purpose of the apparatus is to divide or apportion the tobacco in the receptacle I into definite and uniform charges or quantities for the cigars or cigarettes, and to deposit each charge or quantity into the funnel J, through which it passes into the box K and is removed,another box K being immediately placed beneath the funnel to receive the next quantity of tobacco taken from the receptacle L 0 The separate quantities or charges of the tobacco are apportioned in and taken from the receptacle I on the perforated end of the nozzle E, being there held by avacuum or partial vacuum in the tube D, caused by the exhaustion of the air therefrom through the instrumen- 95 tality of the suction-blower G or other suitable air-propelling apparatus, and the preferred method of operation after the device G has been set in motion is to insert the perforated end F of the nozzle into the receptacle I, open the valve H, move the nozzle through the tobacco, as in the act of stirring it, and

'then withdraw it, when quantity of tobacco will be found attached upon the perforations F, after which the nozzle will be moved over the funnel or hopper J, and the valve H allowed to of the tobacco the amount of the tobaccotaken up on the nozzle will depend principally upon. the speed with which the suction apparatus is operated and the number of perforations F exposed, and hence, when. the size of the charge for the cigar or cigarette is known, it will only be necessary to experiment with the blower O and the adjustable collar Guntil the proper conditions have been attained, which will insure the removal on the end of the nozzle of the right quantity of tobacco for the filler, and when theseconditions have been reached the operation of subdividing the tobacco or other material may be proceeded with, with as much speed as may be desired and with an assurance of accuracy.

Of course, the quantity of tobacco for the filler will vary according to the size of the cigar, but no difficulty will be, experienced in adj usting the suction device 0, or the collars G, or both, to accomplish the removal from the receptacle I of the exact amount desired.

In the construction of the apparatus care must, of course, be observed that the perforations F are not sufficiently large to permit the material to be drawn into the tube D by the air.

I have found my improved device for weight ing or measuring material in comminuted or granulated form in the condition of flakes to be entirely practicable and reliable, and while I have described a form of apparatus, that may be used with success, I do not limit myself to the exact construction shown, as it may be Varied according to the material to be treated and the circumstances of its employment.

It is obvious that the removable box K need not be used unless desired, as thebinders,

boxes, papers, 850., to receive the subdivided material may be. supported below the hopper J and the material allowed to flow into them and be at once inclosed. In this event the ,nozzle are, the same as the similarly-named devices described in the first part of this specification. The rigid tube involves a slight change in the method of handling the mass of affect the operation of the perforated nozzle in subdividing the mass into certain definite proportionate quantities.

Various other modifications will suggest themselves. I do not, therefore, limit my claim to the exact; instrumentalitiesI have described; but

What I claim is 1., An apparatus for subdividing or apportioning a mass of comminuted or granular material, into parts of uniformiweight or quantity, which consists of an air-exhaust of predetermined force, a tube in communication with said exhaust, a perforated nozzle connected with said tube, the perforations of the nozzle. covering a surface of predetermined area and being too small topermit thepassage of the material through them, and a receptaele to contain, the mass of material, substantially' as set forth.

2. An apparatus. for subdividing or apportioning a mass of comminuted, or granular material into parts of uniform weight or quantity, which consists of an air-exhaust of predetermined force, a flexible tube in communication with said exhaust, a perforated. nozzle on the endof said tube, the perforations thereof covering a surface of predetermined area and being too small to permit the passage of the material through the-m, and a receptacleto contain the mass of material, substantially as set forth.

3. An apparatus for subdividing: or apportioning a mass of comminuted or granular material into parts or charges of uniform weight or quantity, which consists of an airexhaust, a flexible tube in. communication therewith, a perforated nozzle in connection with said tube, the perforations thereof covering a surface of predetermined area. and being too small to admit the material, a. valve for cutting off the. exhaust from the perforated surface, a receptacle to. contain the mass of material, and a receptacle to receive the separate. charges from the end. of the-nozzle, substantially as set forth. v

4.. In an apparatus for subdividing material in comminuted form, a pipe attached to -an air-exhaust and provided on its ends with a perforated nozzle, and a movable slideadapted to cover and uncover the perforations. in the nozzle, substantially as set forth.

material, as above mentioned, but does not 5. The apparatus, hereinbefore described, Signed at Newark, in the county of Essex for subdividing comminuted or granular maand State of New Jersey, this 29th day of IO terial into uniform charges or quantities, July, A. D. 1885. which consists of an air-exhaust, a tube pro- 5 vided with a perforated nozzle, an adjustable JOHN WILLIAMS slide on the nozzle, and a valve for cutting Witnesses: the air off from the nozzle, substantially as set HENRY F. GoKEN,

forth. GEORGE 000K. 

